Tray.



'0. HEBESTBEIT.

TRAY.

urmonlol funn 113.14, 190s.

903,377. rPatented Nov. 10,1908.

MWI"I OTTO HEBESTREIT, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

TRAY.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Appucamn'mea March 14, 190s. serial No. 421,119.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'rTo HEBESTREIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Sprin s, in the county of El Paso and State of Co orado, have invented a new and useful Tray, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trays, such as used by waiters for carrying dishes to and from a table when serving meals, and has for its object to provide a device which will carry a number of dishes conveniently and with safety.

Another object of this invention is to facilitate the work of removing the dishes and table utensils after each course of the meal. This is especially desirable at banquets and the like, where the entire table is to be cleared of dishes, knives, forks, and so forth, after each course. It frequently happens in such cases that the pantry is far distant from the dining room and the trays mostly used b waiters are capable cf holding but a few ishes at a time, with the result that the greater part of the time devoted to such occasions is taken up by removing the dishes. The present invention aims to overcome this defect both from the standpoint of the uests and the caterer and employs a numer of trays upon which dishes may be piled, and inde endent rece tacles for knives, forks, an so forth. T is arrangement will smooth affairs in the dining room and hasten those in the pantry, each tray arriving at the latter place to contain the used dishes se arate from the silver.

ith these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arran ement cf parts, hereinafter fully describe illustrated 1n the accompanying drawings, and particularly ointed out in the a pended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details cf the structure ma be made without departing from the s irit or sacrificing any of the advanta es o the invention.

In t e accompanyin drawings z-Figure 1 is a perspective view 0 the device. F1g. 2 is a horizontal sectional view disclosing a means by which the trays are linked together. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the trays.

imilar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts `am like,

throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the present construction, a plurality of trays, preferably formed of metal or-other suitable material, are of approximately triangular form in marginal contour, and have disposed on their upper faces 1 and flanking the sides thereof a metallic rod 2, constituting a wall projecting a slight distance above the plane of each tray. The upper face of each tray has a central com ression as at 3, extending transversely an from this de-4 pression 1s disposed a metallic strap 4 terminally secured to the upper face of the tray on the opposite sides of the depression, thus forming a ocket. A similar pocket 6 is formed at tlie edge of each tray in the same plane with the central pocket. The tray is further provided with elongated perforations 5 on two sides thereof and diametricall opposite each other, the function of whic wil appear later.

Disposed on the lower face of each tray, and directly underlying the central and side pockets 3 and 6 are folding legs. These legs are preferably formed of metal in two sections of une ual lengths with eyes 011 the opposed ends t iereof for the reception of pivot olts 9 by which the sections are held connected. The shorter section of each leg is soldered or otherwise secured to the lowerand the larger section has a portion adjacent its free end turned at right angles, the turned portions 10 facing each other and adapted to enter the pockets 3 and 6, thus connecting the trays, as shown in face of each tray,

lncircling the pivot bolts 9 are coiled s rings 11 having their terminals secured to t e o posed sections and normally tend to fold t e sections 7 and 8 against the lower face of each tray, as shown in Fig. 2. In this construction it is obvious that the trays may be used connected, as shown in Fig. 1`, in which form they are intended for use at banquets, or the like, or the may be detached and used as in the or inary way, as shown in Fig. 3. The receptacles 12 disosed on either side of the device are referably formed of heavy tin, galvanized iron or and are in the form of oblon cans having a flat rear Wall and side wal s disposed at an obtuse angle thereto. The front wall is slightly arched. Intermediately disposed on the exterior of the rear Walls of each-receptacle and adjacent the upper end is secured a fastener 13 which is adaptedv to lit Within the perforations 5 formed on either sideof-the trays 1. This construction renders the receptacles detachably secured to the device, so that when the latter is taken to the pantry and the trays filled W-ithfused dishes and the receptacles containing the used knives, `forks, and .so forth, the latter may be removed from the trays and .the .contents emptied into the cleaner. This will save considerable over the old way wherethesilver ,andplates Were .taken .to t e pantry in one tray, .and there separated.

`that is .claimed is .1. A waiters device `embodying a plurality oftrays .each having foldable legs Adisposed on the .center and .one edge thereof.

2. A Waiters device embodying a plurality of ytrays heach fhaving legs Adisposed von the center and yone edge thereof and adapted to be yieldinglyfheld in `normalvposition `in contact with .thetrays 3 A waitersdevice `embodyinga plurality of trays, .each havingpockets on the .center and one edge thereof, and foldable legs of trays,

adapted to engage said .pockets and maintain the parts in spaced relation.

4. A waiters device embodying a plurality 3 o means at the center and one edge thereof connecting the same, and receptacles disposed on either side of the device and detacliably secured thereto.

5. A waiters device embodying a plurality of trays, each havin foldable legs combined With the center am? one edge thereof, and oblong receptacles disposed on either'side of the device.

6. A Waiters device embodying a plurality of trays, each having pockets on the center and one .edge thereof, foldable legs adapted to engage said pockets .and maintain the trays in spaced relation, and oblong receptacles for table utensils detachably secured to the device.

In testimony that I claim my own, I have'hereto afxed my signature in the presence .of tWo Witnesses.

OTTO HEBESTREIT.

Witnesses:

`W. S. DUNNING, .CHARLES P. BENNETT.

the foregoing as 

